Sean Payton has been reinstated

Posted by Josh Alper on January 22, 2013, 10:30 AM EDT

Reuters

The Saints have their head coach back.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello announced Tuesday morning that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reinstated Payton from his suspension effective immediately. Aiello told PFT that there was nothing to report on Payton’s reinstatement a week ago while also refuting a report that there would be no action taken until after the Super Bowl. There was a meeting on Monday between Payton and Goodell, which led to the end of the suspension right away.

That means Payton is now free to attend the Senior Bowl, hire assistants to fill holes on his staff and otherwise resume the duties of being the head coach of the Saints. Per Aiello, he “acknowledged in the meeting his responsibility for the actions of his coaching staff and players and pledged to uphold the highest standards of the NFL.”

“We had a very productive discussion,” said Commissioner Goodell in a statement. “Sean fully complied with all the requirements imposed on him during his suspension. More important, it is clear that Sean understands and accepts his responsibilities as a head coach and the vital role that coaches play in promoting player safety and setting an example for how the game should be played at all levels. We are committed to delivering football that fans love and the safety players deserve. Coach Payton agrees and I look forward to working with him going forward to do that.”

The Super Bowl is taking place in New Orleans, of course, and there’s been a lot of discussion about the frosty response Goodell was expected to receive from fans that felt he was overly punitive toward the Saints in response to the league’s bounty investigation. A float in one of the first Mardi Gras parades gives a hint of what Goodell might expect. The commish will probably still experience some uncomfortable moments in the Crescent City, but acting on Payton now could temper a little bit of the rancor sent in his direction.

Roger Goodell, on the other hand, should be suspended a lifetime for “conduct detrimental to the sport of football” and for being hypocritical in punishing the Saints but not the Jets when they even admitted to trying to hurt Reggie Bush.

Odd how quick this came once Roger found out there would be no requirement to make his “evidence” public when Vilma’s suit was dismissed. If Roger thinks his welcome here will be any warmer, he is sorely mistaken. That float was a mild reflection of the sentiment towards him. He really shouldn’t eat anything that doesn’t come per-packaged.

Seriously, Superbowl, Mardi Gras, the most despised man in the city (Roger), rowdy fans and alcohol. I wouldn’t want to be Roger.

mazblast says:Jan 22, 2013 11:30 AM

Someone must have pounded some sense into the head of The Great Roger Goodell Himself Live And In Person. He’s proven time and again that he won’t make the right call on his own.

Nevertheless, it is the right decision. However, if I were Goodell, while I was in N’Awlins, I wouldn’t go walking on the streets of the French Quarter without a full phalanx of security, I wouldn’t eat in restaurants, I wouldn’t drink any tap water, I wouldn’t stand near a window, and I’d always keep my back to the wall.

Welcome back Sean; it’s about time. Two weeks may not seem like much of a break, but with the Senior Bowl and Super Bowl coming up, as well as having to replace a key coaching position, every day counts. I think the 2nd round pick will be given back also. Really looking forward to the off season moves and the draft. Next season will be much improved….

I’m happy to have my coach back, but this was a PR move by Goodell cause he knew Saints fans were angry at him and if the Super Bowl wasn’t in Nola, Sean Payton would still be suspended.

raiders757 says:Jan 22, 2013 12:26 PM

This entire thing was overblown. The man should have never been suspended to begin with, nor should their draft pick been taken away. All of you soft shell fans who were in support of all of this nonsense would probably pee your little panties if you saw how things used to be in the NFL. Goodell is turning this league into a WWF style of flag football, and you little girls are just standing by letting happen by supporting his idiocy.

I find it amusing that fans of teams who haven’t won a Super Bowl seem so anxious to invalidate the Saints championship. Considering that the Saints were one of the least penalized teams, none of the hits were illegal, though that McCray hit on Warner was impressive, it was legal, even dickhead Roger who did his best to take down the franchise this season never suggested that championship was anything but deserved.

That championship was earned and if you don’t like it, so what. we really don’t care what you think. Our players don’t drive drunk, don’t beat their wives and girlfriends, don’t wind up in the paper for anything other than recognition of community service and have the unqualified support of an entire city and region behind them. We have over 50,000 on the waiting list for season tickets and have since 2006. I imagine some of your teams wish they had that kind of support.

spicymudbugs says:Jan 22, 2013 3:52 PM

banky74 says: Jan 22, 2013 12:57 PM

Payton might be back, but that asterisk next to the Saints SB win will always be there.
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Actually it’s not there nor will it ever be there!
Amazing the stupidity that comes out of some people

This is all on Goodell. He was the one who publicly accused the Saints of intentionally trying to injure players for 3 years. He claimed they were warned but did not stop. HOWEVER, he provided no clear proof that this even occurred in one game 3 years ago. As Tagliabue said, there was not enough to justify suspending players. He would not have suspended Sean Payton either. Bellicheck was actually caught cheating, not just talking tough before a game. But yet, he was only fined. Patriots fans were not punished along with him. By suspending Sean Payton, Goodell punished thousands of innocent people who had nothing to do with his so-called bounty thing. It was all done to distract the safety issue away from him. Shame on him!